Hypericum beanii (27/07/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun to light shade
Flowering period: Summer
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 1m
Eventual Spread: 1m
Hardiness: 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Family: Hypericaceae
Hypericum beanii is a semi-evergreen shrub with bushy habit. Its dark green leaves are ovate/ lanceolate with entire margins, up to 7cm long and 2.5cm broad. Its yellow flowers have five petals, prominent stamens and are up to 5cm across. Its fruit is a capsule and up to 2cm long.
Hypericum beanii Flower (27/07/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Hypericum beanii, commonly known as St John’s Wort, is native to central south China. In its native habitat it grows in open woodlands and thickets.
The etymological root of the binomial name Hypericum is derived from the Greek meaning ‘above pictures’, in reference to this plants use over shrines to repel evil spirits. Beanii is named after William Jackson Bean (1863 -1947), a British botanist and former curator of Kew Gardens.
The landscape architect may find Hypericum beanii useful as an effective ground cover, summer flowering shrub. It may be lightly pruned to form an informal hedge. Once established this shrub is drought tolerant.
Ecologically, Hypericum beanii flowers are attractive to pollinating insects.
Hypericum beanii Leaf (27/07/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Hypericum beanii prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
Hypericum beanii requires little maintenance. This shrub may be cut to ground level in spring.